The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-14
THE FIDELITY BANK wREcKERs.
Hopkins Takes the Place Vacated by Harps
and the Trial of His Case Begins.


Hopkins Takes the Place Vacated by Harper,
and the Trial of His Case Begins.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 13.-1he trial Of Benjamin
E. Hopkins. late assistant cashier of the Fidel-
ity National Bank, began this morning in the
United States Court. Judge Sage presiding
alone. The Court passed upon the demurrers
which had been argued and struck out six of the
forty or fifty counts, which cover practically the
same acts. The indictment as it remains was
stated in substance to the defendants TO be a
charge of misapplication of the funds Of the FL
deity National Bank, and of making false
entries in the books of the bank. To this the
defendant pleaded not guilty. The jurors sum
moned were then called and sworn to answer to
questions touching their fitness to serve on this
trial The slow process Of their ex-
animation then began. Assistant District
Attorney J. e. Bruce conducts the
prosecution. Mr.. Warner E. Bateman appears
for the defendant. Mr. Hopkins is attended by
his and two daughters, and Mr.. OKeefe,
his son-in-law. He has been SO well known in
Cincinnati by nearly all kinds of people that
the courtroom was again filled with spectators.
He refers with pardonable pride to the fact that
his long semi-public life here this is the first
time serious charge has been made against
him, and claims he can now prove his innocence
The selection of the jury was accomplished. and
the jury sworn before the noon adjournment
Nearly all the jurors farmers from the
southern and western part of the State-none
from FL amilton county Ten of the Jurymen
are farmers, one is stock dealer, and the
twelfth is a book-blnder.
Mr. Bateman demanded bill! OF particulars
of the specific transactions upon which the al
legged offerses named in the first count are
based The court will rule upon this to-mor-
row.
M prroa for ,ba oovarnrnent than stated
that they expected to show that Hopkins had at
one time misapplied $500. 900 of the Fidelity
Banks funds and $40 GOO at another time; that
he had drawn personal checks upon the bank for
large sums when he had no funds to draw upon.
and that he had made false entries in the books
of the bank representing 81, 000, 900 used in the
Wiltshire wheat deal
Mr. Bateman. for the defense. said they would
prove that the defendant was not aware or what
was being done in the bank; that he signed i'm
proper drafts when handed him by Harper, not
knowing their nature.
Frank A. Armstrong, now employed in the
Cincinnati postofice, but recently broker, tes-
tilted that in March last the defendant met him
on Change and made an appointment to meet
him at Bomans, where Hopkins arranged to
have the witness buy for him 100, 900 bushels of
wheat in Chicago a two-cent margin. The
witness took the order and Hopkins gave him a
80 900 draft of the Fidelity Bank the
Metropolitan Bank of Chicago Hopkins said
the deal was not for himself but for a
strong party whom he could not name Chicago
called for more margin. and the witness saw
Hopkins, who could give him no answer until he
saw his principal. 1t was not till IL or 11:30
that Hopkins told him TO sell out the wheat
which he did, making loss of 1850 He paid
the proceeds to Hopkins in currency at the
bankp at Hopkins's request
John t. Snodgrass, of Chicago, a dealer in
grain and provisions, was next called. he was
askedto state a conversation he had with Mr..
Hopkins in February last, here but the defense
objected. The jury sent out while the
court inquired what the testimony was and
then ruled it competent. Mr. Snodgrass went
to say that Hopkins told him he WAS wanting
one in Chicago to manage for friend of
his who amply able to operate deal or
corner" in wheat; that "they," as he named
the unknown hacker or hackers, wanted to buy
on a twoeent margin and give New York ex-
change at.the close of every day, as might be
qured by the state of the market The witness
said he could not close the arrangement until he
day he had telegram from Mr. Hopkins, signed
ben" saying: eff you comply with our
conversation buy million bushels May wheat.
and a million more every cent break" The
witness said this conversation occurred Feb.
%. last, and that the telegram was sent next
dav.
On cross-examination he said he did nothing
person, telling Hopkins that his firm wanted
more margin and must know who was the prin-
cpaL Hopkins said there others who
would do the business on the terms he wished
and so the matter dropped.
Mr.. Batsman watches every point that will
enable him to harass the prosecution with
view TO breaking the force of the testimony.
legal fghtfor his client that be made. In
the M after of this witnesses testimony, ne drew
out q II three of the government counsel in the
argument